Accuracy of Ipex-I and Root ZX Mini Electronic Apex Locators and Conventional Radiography in Determining Root Canal Length in Primary Molars with Root Resorption: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background and purpose: One of the main goals in pediatric dentistry is to maintain deciduous teeth until the permanent teeth grow. In cases where the pulp of deciduous teeth is involved, pulpectomy is needed which requires determining the correct working length of the canals and cleaning and filling their interior space using a proper filling material. The principles of successful endodontic treatment in permanent teeth are well known, but, determining the anatomy of the canal of deciduous teeth is difficult due to the resorption and deposition of hard tissue in the root canal, the shape, dimensions, and variable conditions of root apex. Therefore, in this narrative review, we investigated the accuracy of Ipex-I and Root ZX mini electronic apex locators and conventional radiography in root canal length determination in resorbed primary molars. A thorough search was conducted in Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Irandoc, SID, Magiran, and Iranmedex covering the articles published in 2000–2020. According to findings, all techniques mentioned were found to have almost similar accuracy in determining the working length in resorbed deciduous molars. However, obtaining radiography images may be difficult in children, therefore, apex locators are more preferable to the conventional method